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Copyright, 1910, by 
The Metropolitan Press 



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CONTENTS 


The Message of Christmas 11 

Our Pilgrim Fathers 12 

The Soldier’s Message 13 

Elvin Adair’s Poetry 15 

The Fair 30 

Camping 37 

At the Brook 43 

School Days 47 



















THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS 


A gain ’tis “Merry Christmas,” 
And merry bells are ringing, 
And happy little children 
Carols are sweetly singing. 

The same — the old sweet story. 

Yet they’re telling it again. 

Of lost mankind’s dear Saviour, 
Who was born in Bethlehem. 

Unto hearts of young and old 
The joy this day is bringing. 
Seems the Heavens to unfold — 
We hear the angels singing. 

Go, with message of Christmas, 
Along through the coming years. 
Strewing flowers along your path. 
And drying humanity’s tears. 

[ 11 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


OUR PILGRIM FATHERS 

I SAT^ one twilight hour, 

And dreamed of my native land, 
Revereneed it more and more; 
Recalled that brave, little band 

Of true Pilgrim Fathers, 

Who sailed across troubled seas, 

W eary of persecution. 

Seeking sweet freedom’s peace. 

I saw their sons — our fathers 
In that great Revolution, 

That gave America 

Her wonderful constitution. 

I saw them now in battle 
Amidst the shot and shell. 

Saw them die like cattle 

For the land we love so well. 

[ 12 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


I cried: — “Blessed Fathers, 

We pay our homage to thee; 

We love our native land, 

And will, while this life shall be.” 



THE SOLDIER’S MESSAGE 

“C^iNG on, little bird in yonder tree,” 
^ Sighed the soldier on the battlefield 
alone, 

“Sing on, for thy melody brightens me 
As I lie here thinking of home. 

Oh, little bird, that thou might’st go 
To the old folks so far, far away. 

And tell them about me, all you know. 
And the victory won this day. 

[ 13 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


Tell my mother for me to-night, 

That I am praying once more, 

After another weary fight. 

To go to my native shore.” 

The little bird finished his singing. 

And the fight broke out anew ; 

But never, alas ! came the glad day bring- 
ing 

The soldier back home from the foe. 

Over his grave the little bird sings. 

But the mother in agonized prayer 

Hears not the message the faint breeze 
brings. 

That the songster poured forth to the 
air. 


The Message of Christmas 


ELVIN ADAIR’S POETRY 

E lvin Adair wrote poetry. Every 
drawer in the house and almost every 
hook contained here and there a scrap of 
paper upon which she had been express- 
ing her thoughts in poetic form. 

Now, although Elvin was merely a girl 
of twelve years, she had an idea, that to 
write poetry at such an early age was 
surely a mark of genius. However, 
whether she was an undeveloped genius 
or not, we shall not discuss, but remain 
content with the fact that she had writ- 
ten some very good poetry. 

Elvin was a very absent-minded girl. 
She would stand for hours gazing out of 
the library window with a far-away ex- 
pression upon her face, and to her mother’s 
inquiry: — “What are you doing, Elvin?” 
she would answer: — “Composing poetry, 

[ n ] 


The Message of Christmas 


mother,” and with a hearty laugh Mrs. 
Adair would leave her to finish her poetry. 

Elvin was not the only child. She had 
a brother, Richard, a tall, handsome young 
man of athletic build. 

Elvin had often said Richard was 
not worth having for a brother any more, 
because he was engaged to be married, 
and was so wrapped up in his fiancee that 
he could not appreciate her poetry. 

Mrs. Adair often laughingly declared 
that Elvin and Richard were not at all 
alike in disposition, nor in anything but 
handwriting, for Mrs. Adair and even 
experts of penmanship could not distin- 
guish their writing. 

Richard’s fiancee was a beautiful girl, 
belonging to one of the wealthiest families 
of Morestown. 

Many a young man in far better circum- 
stances than Richard, had courted and 
tried, in vain, to win Florence Franklin; 


[ 16 ] 



The Message of Christmas 


so Richard felt equally proud and happy 
to think that Florence really loved him 
with her whole heart. 

One day, Richard, returning home from 
business, stopped at a florist’s and pur- 
chased a bouquet of beautiful roses for 
Florence, and as he hurried home, cane in 
one hand, and bouquet in the other, he 
attracted the attention of every one, for 
surely he looked like a happy, young 
groom. But Richard was happy because 
he would soon be with Florence, and smil- 
ing, for he was thinking of how sweet 
was the girl he loved. 

Just as he was passing the corner of 
the avenue on which Florence lived, he 
caught sight of — whom? Florence — and 
a young man. Richard started back with 
a look of astonishment upon his face and 
his heart throbbed with excitement; but 
the next minute, he smiled as he said to 
himself : — “Ah, so Florence’s cousin, Mar- 

[ 17 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


tin, is in town. I must see him to-morrow, 
without fail. Too bad Stanton is com- 
ing this evening.” And with this Richard 
hurried home. 


“I’m going to write tragedy in poetic 
form,” said Elvin, seating herself at her 
brother’s desk. She hunted high and low 
for a piece of paper upon which to write 
her poem and, finally, she succeeded in 
finding a piece of paper upon which, in the 
lower right-hand corner, was “Richard 
Adair,” which her brother had written. 
Not wishing to bother erasing the name, 
for fear she in the meantime might lose 
her inspiration, she started her tragical 
poem, and this is what she wrote: — 

“O thou traitor. 

Mean and false friend. 

Enough to say — Farewell, 

With us all’s at an end. 


[ 18 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Elvin,” called Richard from the foot 
of the stairs. 

“Yes,” responded Elvin. 

“Take this note around to Florence for 
me, will you?” Elvin did not like the idea 
of being disturbed, all on account of a note 
to Florence, just as she was getting along 
so beautifully with her poem; so with a 
frown, she answered: — “Yes,” and folding 
her poem that Richard should not see it, 
she slipped the unfinished verse into an 
envelope and, taking the other envelope 
from Richard, hurried out of the room. 

All the way around to Florenee’s home 
Elvin thought and thought: — What can 
I rhyme for the second verse? She 
reached the large driveway leading to the 
house, but she glanced neither one side nor 
the other, for she was still racking her 
brain for something to rhyme for the sec- 
ond verse of her new poem. 

She was now at the house and pulled 

[ 19 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


the bell without even thinking of what she 
Avas doing. 

The maid, who opened the door, said 
INIiss Florence was in, and asked Elvin if 
she wouldn’t please enter; but still with 
her mind more on the poem than on either 
the note, Florence, or Richard, she an- 
swered: — “No, Hanna, but please hand 
this note to Miss Franklin and tell her 
Mr. Adair sent it.” Greatly relieved to 
know this awful task was over, Elvin hur- 
ried home. She placed the remaining en- 
velope in a book and hurried into the 
dining-room in answer to her mother’s 
call. ' 

Florence Franklin, after she had re- 
turned home from a walk with her Cousin 
Martin, went directh^ to her room, and 
feeling quite tired she lay down to rest. 
She had no sooner lain down, when there 
came a knock upon the door, and in answer 
to her call to enter, Flanna came iji and 


[20 1 


The Message of C hr is t m a s 


handed Florence the envelope that Elvin 
had given her, at the same time saying : — 
“Miss Elvin Adair asked me to give you 
this. She said : “ ‘It’s from Mr. Adair.’ ” 

Florence jumped up and eagerly took 
the note from Hanna’s hand, and after 
she had left the room and closed the door, 
she kissed the envelope, at the same time 
saying: — “Dear Richard.” Then, she 
tore it open eagerly, anxious to see what 
Richard had said ; but the next minute she 
threw herself down upon the couch and 
sobbed bitterly, — “O, what have I done? 
Richard and I have never had a cross 
word, and yet he calls me a traitor, a mean 
and false friend; he has broken our en- 
gagement, without a word of explanation. 
O Richard, how could you?” she cried. 

“Ah, I see it now,” said Florence to her- 
self,” he has seen me with Cousin Martin. 
But no, Richard was never jealous of a 

[ 21 ] 


T he Message of Christmas 


soul ; he was too good, too noble ; but what 
can it mean?” 

At last a new thought occurred to Flor- 
ence, and, drying her eyes, she hurriedly 
dressed for the evening. She soon made 
her appearance in the library, looking very 
calm, but sad. Finding no one there when 
she entered, she seated herself at her desk 
and wrote a long letter of farewell to 
Richard. She then sent Hanna out to 
mail it. . 


The many friends of the Franklins 
were greatly surprised, when they learned 
in a few days that Mr. and Mrs. Franklin 
and Florence had gone away for an in- 
definite period, and that the engagement 
between Florence and Richard had been 
broken. What a stir was created in the 
social w'orld by the broken engagement! 
Did her parents object to the match? No, 

[ 22 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


they had always liked Richard Adair very 
much; for Mr. and Mrs. Franklin had 
never for an instant hesitated in saying so. 
Was he too poor? No, Florence knew 
that Richard wasn’t as wealthy as some of 
her former admirers. Perhaps Florence 
loved another. And thus, they questioned 
and discussed the subject, till people grew 
almost M'eary of it. 

JNIrs. Adair tried to console her son, and 
Elvin to comfort her brother, but all in 
vain. He could not be comforted. 

Great was the surprise of Mrs. Adair 
and Elvin, when, one morning, he made 
known his intention of going away. To 
Mrs. Adair’s inquiry, “Where are you go- 
ing, Richard?” he answered: — “I don’t 
know, mother ; nor do I care ; but, wherever 
I go, j'^ou shall hear from me as soon as 
possible.” And so, with sincere tears and 
kisses from his mother and sister, Richard 
Adair went away. 

[ 28 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“The Kensington,” the finest hotel in 
the Orange Mountains, was filled with a 
jolly lot of young people, all bent upon 
having a good time. 

Just six months had passed since Flor- 
ence had written her letter of farewell to 
Richard Adair. 

One beautiful, moonlight evening, all 
the young people of the Kensington, ac- 
companied by a chaperon, went for a hay 
ride through the mountains. Until the hay 
riders got a great way off, those on the 
veranda of the Kensington could hear 
their singing, laughing and blowing of 
their horns. Among the guests who could 
hear the jolly party were Mr. and Mrs. 
h’ranklin and Florence. 

I t pained her parents very much, indeed, 
to see Florence, formerly of such happy, 
jolly nature, now sadly dreaming of happy 
days gone by, and constantly refusing to 
join the young people in their pleasures. 

[ 24 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


One beautiful afternoon, Florence, who 
was very lonely, her parents having gone 
for a drive, with only her solemn thoughts 
for company, went for a stroll through 
the mountains. She soon paused in her 
walk and seated herself beneath a large, 
shady willow tree. She had brought a 
magazine with her, but her thoughts 
would not allow her to enjoy its contents. 
She had sought the shade of the willow 
tree to meditate, and this she did. 

“Mother and father must have returned 
by this time,” she said to herself, after she 
had sat and dreamed of other days for 
more than an hour; she arose and started 
for the Kensington. As she walked along, 
she saw coming toward her a hunter. She 
paid no attention to his coming, for hun- 
ters with their horses and dogs were, in- 
deed, a familiar sight to her, but every now 
and then she would stoop and pluck a 
flower that appealed to her. 

[ 25 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


Nearer and nearer came the hunter, till 
just as Florence stooped to pluck a little 
wild rose, the hxmter passed by. She did 
not turn to look at him, but was about to 
continue on her way, when she was startled 
by a familiar voice exclaiming: — “Flor- 
ence Franklin, thank God, I have found 
you at last.” 

Florence turned quickly, a frightened 
expression on her pale face, which changed 
immediately to one of contempt. 

“Well, Mr. Adair, what are you doing 
here?” Her tone was very cold and she 
looked at him with even a colder expres- 
sion. 

“Florence, to find you,” he responded, 
not paying the slightest bit of attention to 
her manner nor to her “Mr. Adair” — “to 
ask you to explain why you broke our en- 
gagement.” She smiled at him, sarcasti- 
cally, and her tone rang with sarcasm. 

“Have you so soon forgotten?” 

[ 26 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“No, indeed. Ah, how much better had 
I come and explained matters myself, in- 
stead of writing.” His tone was one of 
regret. 

“I needed no explanation,” she said, “I 
can read quite well.” For a few minutes, 
he gazed at her with a puzzled expression. 
Suddenly, he exclaimed, at the same time 
trying to take her hand; — “O Florence, 
and will you allow a man, unintentionally 
— a man with whom we are the best of 
friends, to blight our lives and part us 
forever ?” She drew her hand away quick- 
ly, but her tone of voice softened a little, 
though her face looked determined, as she 
replied: 

“It was your own fault. You accused 
me of being a traitor and a false friend. 
When was I ever untrue to you?” And 
her eyes filled with tears. 

“Why, Florence,” he cried excitedly, 
“what under Heaven do you mean? 

[ 27 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


When did I call you a false friend ? When 
did I say you were a traitor? Tell me, 
I beg of you.” Richard was greatly dis- 
turbed and Florence was weeping. She 
drew from her magazine the note that 
Elvin had left for her and handed it to 
Richard. “Read this,” she said. He took 
the note, glanced at it and exclaimed, with 
a tone and expression of the deepest dis- 
gust: — “Good Heavens, it’s Elvin’s 
poetry. 

“Now,” said he, “I shall tell you what 
the note that I sent to you contained. The 
day your Cousin Martin came, I had to 
see Will Stanton on business, so I wrote 
telling you that I was very . sorry, but 
could not possibly see you that 
evening ” 

“Richard, do forgive me,” cried Flor- 
ence, holding out her hand to him, and 
looking very sorry. “I see it all. Elvin 
has been writing tragedy and by mis- 
take ” 


[ 28 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Never mind, little girl,” he said, in- 
terrupting her, at the same time putting 
his arm around her waist. “Only, let us 
be thankful that I had a chance to explain 
all.” 

The sun, now setting beyond the moun- 
tain-top, smiled down upon the happy, 
reunited lovers. The birds filled their 
hearts with joy and the willow, beneath 
which they stood, smiled down upon them 
its richest blessing. 

As Florence and Richard returned to 
the Kensington, they forgave, with all 
their hearts, the little girl in Morestown — 
Elvin Adair, who is still writing poetry. 


[ 29 ] 


T h e Message of C h r is t m a s 


THE FAIR 

E dna Louise Barnard was the only 
daughter of a wealthy manufacturer. 
She was a very pretty little girl of eight 
years, with an abundance of light brown 
hair and dark brown eyes. 

Edna and I always were the best of 
friends and we were inseparable. Every 
morning, we would hurry off to school to- 
gether, and every afternoon return home 
planning some fun. 

“Vivian,” said Edna one day, as we 
were returning from school, “I have a 
good idea.” Immediately, I was all atten- 
tion. I was not at all surprised at Edna’s 
having a good idea; I was so fond of her 
that I thought all of her ideas were good. 

“What is it?” I asked, slipping my arm 
through hers. 

“When we get home, let us organize a 
social club and hold a big fair. Will you?” 

[ 30 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Oh, goodie, I surely will,” I cried, 
dancing for joy. “But, what shall we have 
for a club house?” 

“Our barn,” Edna replied, smiling. 
And as we continued on our w'ay we dis- 
cussed fully the necessary details for or- 
ganizing a club. 

Edna and I lived side by side, and as 
we drew near home we saw, sitting on the 
front porch, my Brother Will. He was 
a mischievous little fellow, just Edna’s 
age. We called to him and told him that 
we had a great secret to tell. Will was 
very fond of secrets, so he ran eagerly to 
hear what it was. 

When Edna had finished telling him of 
our intention to organize a club. Will gave 
a shout for joy, threw his hat into the air, 
soon catching it, and then walked sensibly 
by our side. 

Edna and I put away our books and 
started to Avork on the club house. Imme- 


[ 31 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


diately, there was heard the greatest noise 
of commanding voices. Edna and I gath- 
ered a lot of flowers from the garden, while 
Will procured a step-ladder, and mount- 
ing it, with a hammer and some nails he 
soon decorated the club house. W e 
thought the decorations beautiful. We 
brought from our homes a desk, a table 
and a lot of chairs, and we found, after 
searching awhile, carpet enough to cover 
the floor. And ere the sun went down 
that day we had, instead of a barn, a beau- 
tifully furnished club house, and we were 
proud indeed of our day’s work. 

That night, we decided to get up early 
the next morning and find a lot of chil- 
dren who would like to join our club. 

The next morning we did arise very 
early; but, somehow, the time for starting 
to school arrived so soon, we could not ac- 
complish anything. However, in the 
afternoon, we found seven children who 


[ 32 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


were anxious to become members of our 
club. 

At the first meeting held that afternoon 
in the club house, Edna was chosen Presi- 
dent; Will, Secretary; and I, Treasurer. 

“Now,” said Edna, as she arose from 
the President’s chair, with an air of great 
importance, “when shall we hold our 
fair?” 

“I say we vote on the date,” replied 
Will; for he thought this quite an impor- 
tant matter. 

So we all voted on the question and it 
was decided the next Saturday afternoon 
we should hold our fair. 

“But where shall we hold it?” asked Mil- 
dred Burton, with wondering expression. 
This club house is too small. 

“Aunt Sarah will let us hold it in her 
barn, I am sure,” said Joe Sullivan, and 
he shook his head to emphasize his faith 
in his aunt. 


[ 33 ] 


The Message of Christ m a s 


“Let us all go and ask her,” I suggested. 
So we all hurried off in great spirits to 
interview Aunt Sarah Sullivan. 

Joe’s aunt, Sarah Sullivan, a stout, 
jolly, gray -haired woman, who loved chil- 
dren, was greatly amused at the idea of 
our organizing a social club, but she of- 
fered to help us in any way that she could. 
So we were not at all astonished when 
Aunt Sarah consented to our holding a 
big fair in her barn. 

During that week, we were a very busy 
lot of girls and boys, and by the time Sat- 
urday, June the tenth, arrived, we had a 
great number of beautiful articles to sell. 


Saturday afternoon, at two o’clock, all 
was ready. I shall never forget the pic- 
ture that we girls and boys made. Edna 
wore a very pretty white dress and her hair 
hung in long braids down her back. My 

[ 34 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


sister, Alice, was also in white and I never 
saw these two look so well. They were 
in charge of the fancy booth. 

In the center of the barn stood Aunt 
Sarah’s flower stand and upon it was a 
large iron pot containing lemonade. Mil- 
dred Burton, a thin, delicate-looking girl, 
in a pretty blue dress and her golden hair 
a mass of ringlets, stood with a big tin 
dipper in her hand, patiently waiting to 
moisten the lips of some thirsty, but chari- 
table stranger. 

Joe Sullivan and his brother, David, 
stood at the barn door to see that each per- 
son who entered would pay the admittance 
fee of two cents. 

Will was in charge of the candy booth. 

Everything was going along smoothly, 
indeed, and great sales were being made; 
for Aunt Sarah and Uncle Sullivan 
patronized us most beautifully, when 
Alice, who was now standing alone behind 

[ 35 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


the fancy booth, heard a terrible racket 
in the next stall. Tidy, the cow, had stood 
the noise and confusion for a long time 
without a sound, but suddenly she mooed 
in a loud voice, jumped ahead and then 
back. Alice could see nothing but Tidy’s 
breaking loose, and in her great haste to 
get out of the barn, she fell head first, 
sprawling over the fancy booth, on to the 
floor. There were not two fancy articles 
now fit for sale. 

The girls screamed, but the boys were 
very angry, while Aunt Sarah and Uncle 
Joe laughed heartily. 

Edna, fearing that a quarrel would en- 
sue, proposed that the treasurer take the 
proceeds and keep it till some future date. 
And her good advice was followed. 

Though innocent, ugly Tidy had 
brought to such sudden close this “won- 
derful fair,” we all were delighted when 
we found that our proceeds amounted to 
just seventy cents. 

[ 36 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


CAMPING 


NE day, a lot of girls and boys with 



Edna and myself, were gathered 
around the old well in Aunt Sarah’s yard, 
talking of war and its many horrors. 

“The part that I should like,” said Mil- 
dred Burton, “is sleeping all night in a 
tent.” As she spoke, she seated herself 
upon the ground. 

“That must be great fun,” exclaimed 
Edna, for she was always ready for any 
strange adventure. 

“Let us play war,” suggested David 
Sullivan, with enthusiasm, as he looked 
from one to the other for a word of ap- 
proval. “No, I will tell you what — let us 
build a tent in the apple orchard and sleep 
in it all night.” 


“O wouldn’t that be fun,” laughed Mil- 
dred, clapping her hands with delight. 


[ 87 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Yes, but who would protect us from 
any danger?” asked Edna, doubtful of 
its being a wise suggestion. 

“We boys, of course,” David responded, 
looking his bravest. 

So we decided to pitch a tent and then 
get permission of our parents to sleep in 
it all night. Aunt Sarah gave us two old 
sheets that she had cast aside, and imme- 
diately we began making the tent. By the 
time the dinner hour arrived the tent was 
finished and everything in shape. 

During dinner, after a great deal of 
teasing, we won the consent of our parents 
to allow us to camp out all night. 


It was an extremely dark night. In the 
center of the tent stood a lighted candle. 
Around it were seated all the girls and 
boys and we appeared a brave, happy lot 
of children. 


[ 38 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Some one tell a story,” said Edna, 
after we had all seated ourselves. 

“I will tell a fine story that I once read, 
if you care to hear it,” said David. We 
all expressed a great desire to have him tell 
the story, so David began: — “Once upon 
a time two boys went out camping near a 
dense forest when it was very dark, and, 
in the middle of the night, two masked 

men with revolvers in their hands 

“Wait a minute,” interrupted Edna, 
“we have nothing with which to defend 
ourselves if the men should come after us.” 

“Nonsense,” sneered David, “we hoys 
are not afraid; we will defend you, so do 
not worry about that. “Well, as I was 
going to tell you,” he continued, “the men 
ran into the tent, captured both the boys 
and tied their hands and feet.” 

“Hark,” whispered Mildred, “I feel 
some one is creeping near the tent.” As 
she spoke she drew a little nearer to David. 

[ 39 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


“Mildred Burton, if you want me to 
finish this story, do not act like a baby,” 
growled David, frowning terribly at her 
as he spoke. 

As David continued to tell his story, 
larger and brighter grew every eye; for 
we all were beginning to grow a little 
nervous. 

“After the men had tied the boys,” 
laughed David, “they 

Crick-crack-crick — steps were heard 
coming closer and closer. We all listened, 
almost breathlessly, hoping that we had 
only imagined that some one was coming, 
but no, louder and louder grew the sound 
and nearer came the footsteps. 

Now David was frightened. He whis- 
pered that he would get a large stick 
that was near the tent door, but, in his en- 
deavor to do so, he knocked over the can- 
dle, extinguishing the only bit of light, 
and not one of us had a match. 


[ 40 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


This was enough for us all. No longer 
could we bear the awful suspense, and in 
another minute the night was anything 
but a silent one, for we all screamed to the 
tops of our voices: “Mother,” “Father,” 
“Aunt Sarah,” “Uncle Joe.” In the dark- 
ness we could see, plainly, the masked men 
that David had told us about and we knew 
well that our fate would be the same as 
the fate of the boys in David’s story. 

Uncle Joe must have been near, for, in 
less than a minute, he, with his lantern in 
his hand, stood laughing in our midst. 

But what had been the cause of our 
fright? Whose footsteps had we heard? 
There, beside the tent, calmly chewing her 
cud, stood Tidy, innocent Tidy, the cow. 

“Well, children,” laughed Uncle Joe, 
“don’t you want to remain in camp for the 
rest of the night?” 

“No, indeed,” we all responded. 

“I have had enough of camping out at 

[ 41 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


night,” said Edna. “It just proves, any- 
way, that boys are not always as brave as 
they sometimes think they are.” She 
looked disgustedly at David and the boys. 

With this, we all hurried home, declar- 
ing that we had had, for the remainder of 
our lives, enough of camping at night and 
that home was not only the safest, but the 
“best” place on earth for any child to be. 


[ 42 ] 


The Message of Christ vi as 


AT THE BROOK 
OME^ boys, let us go down to the 



brook and have some fun catch- 
ing frogs,” cried Joe Sullivan, as he 
started for the brook. The boys, tired of 
playing games, hurried after him. 

“Come, girls, let us go too,” suggested 
Mildred Burton, and, in a few minutes, 
we all reached the brook, which ran 
through Aunt Sarah Sullivan’s farm. 

“What are you going to do with the 
frogs after you catch them?” asked Alice, 
with anxious face. 

“Cut their legs off, fry them and eat 
them,” answered Joe, laughing at her 
anxiety. He had seated himself upon a 
rock and was now removing his shoes and 
stockings, so as to wade in the brook. 

“Oh, how cruel,” cried Mildred, looking 
horrified. “I am going to tell your Aunt 
Sarah,” and she started for the house. 


[ 43 ] 


'The Message of C h r is t vi a s 


“No, don’t go,” called David, “I shall 
hold the frogs for Joe, after he catches 
them.” He turned his back toward Joe 
and winked mischievously at the girls. 

“Ah, here is a fine fellow,” shouted Joe, 
who had now waded into the brook and 
was holding to view a poor, frightened 
frog that was kicking and squirming in 
hope of escaping from Joe’s firm grasp. 

“You cruel, cruel boy,” exclaimed Alice, 
angrily, “how can you be so cruel? 
You ” 

“Here’s another,” interrupted Joe. 
“He was a hard one to catch. Here, 
Dave, take him.” And he handed David 
the second frog. David, apparently, was 
so interested in the second prisoner that, 
as he took him from Joe, he dropped the 
first. “Ah, Joe,” said David regretfully, 
“he slipped out of my hand.” The girls 
were delighted and they gave David a 
smile of approval, but Joe was very angry. 

[ 44 ] 


The Message of Christ m a s 


“David Sullivan,” he exclaimed, “if you 
don’t know how to hold frogs, say so and I 
shall get some one else.” David promised 
to be more careful, so Joe forgave him and 
cohtinued catching frogs. 

Reaching directly over the brook, near 
the place we all were standing, was a small 
tree, or what Uncle Joe Sullivan called 
a “sapling.” Richard Freeman, a little 
boy of five years, thought that the top of 
this tree would afford a good view of the 
brook and of Joe, so without attracting the 
attention of any one, he climbed to the 
top. 

“Oh, what a good dinner I shall have to- 
night,” cried Joe, smacking his lips, as 
though then enjoying the meal, at the 
same time handing David the third frog. 
“Wait till — ” — crick, crack — splash. 
“What is that?” we all cried in one voice. 
Behold, the tree, in the top of which lit- 
tle Richard had been seated, broke, and 
Richard fell head first into the brook. 


[ 45 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


David was the first to run to his assist- 
ance and, in doing so, he dropped Joe’s 
only frog. Just then we heard the dinner 
bell and we all parted for the day. The 
girls were delighted to think that Joe 
would be disappointed in not having a 
meal of frogs. 


The Message of Christmas 


SCHOOL DAYS 


ACATiON was over. The studies that 



^ had for so long been forgotten were 
once again taken up. 

Now, my time and attention were de- 
voted to one of the greatest of all instru- 
ments — the violin. My parents, appre- 
ciating my talent for and eagerness to 
learn the violin, made arrangements for 
me to study at a celebrated school of music 
in the city of C . 

One day, soon after this, Edna came 
over with a face wreathed in smiles. 

“Vivian,” she said, “mother and father 
have promised that I may attend college.” 
Edna was always very fond of study, so I 
was not at all surprised at her wishing to 
attend college, and I was not only amazed, 
but extremely sorry, when she continued: 

“Just think, Vivian, I am going to Pro- 


[ 47 ] 


The 31 e s s a g e of Christmas 


fessor Milburn’s Seminary for Young 
Ladies, and will be away four years.” Mil- 
burn’s Seminary was the best school for 
young ladies in the country and, surely, 
this was a great opportunity for Edna. 
But, if she had said that she would be gone 
for fifteen years, the time could not have 
seemed longer to me. 

JNIy solemn face caused Edna to laugh 
heartily. 

“O Vivian, don’t look so sad. I shall 
promise to write every day,” she said con- 
solingly. 

Realizing that Edna should not be dis- 
couraged in her ambition, any more than 
I, in a few minutes I cheered up and told 
her of the great opportunity afforded me. 

Altogether too soon the day arrived 
when Edna started for school. Our part- 
ing at the station was a most affectionate 
one and, I really think, it was quite fortu- 
nate that the train came along sooner than 

[ 48 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


we had expected, or Edna might have 
changed her mind about leaving me for 
so long. 

Now, of course, it will be impossible for 
me to tell you all that happened while 
Edna was at college. So we shall leave 
her with her studies at “The Milburn Sem- 
inary,” and I, with mine at the school of 
music. 


One beautiful June morning, just after 
a storm, the flowers sent forth a sweet 
fragrance and in the trees near our front 
porch the birds sang their sweetest. I was 
sitting on the porch, alone, and could not 
help being happy on such a morning. 
Then, too, I had in my hand a letter from 
Edna. 

Every day, true to her promise, I had 
received from her a jolly letter, telling me 
of the pranks that the girls would indulge 

[ 49 ] 


The 31 e s s a g e of Christmas 


in, after the hours for study were over. 
This letter was quite different from any 
that I had yet received from her and this 
was what she said : 

My Dear Old Vivian: 

Well, I suppose you are delighted to 
think that my school days are drawing to 
a close and that I shall soon be home again. 

The only reason that I am glad is, that 
you and I can have good times together, 
otherwise, I am sorry, for I have had an 
extremely good time during my four 
years at school. 

Now, Vivian, dear, you know the Grad- 
uating Exercises are to be held on Thurs- 
day evening of this week, but on Wednes- 
day evening there is to be, in honor of 
the Graduates, a Carnival. This is said to 
be a wonderful sight. 

Vivian, I want you to come out to the 
school on Wednesday, June the twenty- 

[ 50 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


sixth, so as to attend the Carnival and the 
Graduating Exereises too. And, my dear, 
I shall introduce you to all of the girls. 

Now, don’t you dare let anything pre- 
vent you from coming. 

With heaps of love, I am. 

Yours as ever, 

Edna. 


Wednesday morning, June the twenty- 
sixth, came and it was one of the most 
beautiful mornings for traveling that I 
ever remember. It was just cool enough 
to make it delightful. 

The preparations for my trip to Mil- 
burn Seminary having been completed, on 
Wednesday morning at 8 a. m., I was 
ready to start on my journey. 

I did not reach the Central Depot un- 
til 10:15, and found I had but a few 
minutes to wait. Soon, the train came 


[ 51 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


along and, amid the shouting of the con- 
duetor, the blowing of the engine’s whistle, 
and the running to and fro of people, I 
got aboard and, as I seated myself in the 
train, I thought, now for a delightful 
journey. 

I enjoyed the seenery to the fullest ex- 
tent, and it did not seem a great while 
before our train pulled into JMilburn sta- 
tion. 

As we neared the station, I put my head 
out of the car window to see if I could 
catch a glimpse of Edna. There were a 
great many people, young and old, who 
stood impatiently waiting for our train to 
stop, so eager were they to welcome some 
friend or relative. Feeling that my effort 
to recognize Edna among so many would 
be a vain one, I was just in the act of 
drawing my head in from the window, 
when I heard a familiar voice and I saw, 
frantically waving her hand — dear old 

[ 52 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


Edna. I snatched up my grip and was 
hardly out of the train, when Edna flew 
into my arms and Avelcomed me with a 
warm embrace. 

But how Edna had changed I Her hair 
no longer hung in a thick braid, but was 
now arranged, graeefully, upon her head. 
Her dress was no longer to her knees, but 
was the length becoming to a young 
woman. She was not proud, but now pos- 
sessed the dignity of a college girl. But, 
with all these changes that I noticed at a 
glance, there still remained the same jolly 
spirit, the same sweet face and voice of 
my Edna, and she felt the same deep affec- 
tion for me, I am sure. 

After we had exchanged our warm wel- 
come, Edna introduced me to several of 
her chums, and we then entered a carriage 
and were driven to the college. 

I often wondered how Edna could be 
content away from home and friends so 


[ 53 ] 


The Message of Christ m a s 


long, but, after I had made the acquain- 
tance of her college chums, I ceased to 
wonder; for they were extremely nice 
girls. 

We had luncheon as soon as we arrived 
at the college, after which I was escorted 
around the grounds, and I must say, I 
thought Milburn Seminary an ideal school 
for young ladies. 


June the twenty-sixth, the Carnival 
was held on Wessley Lake, in honor 
of the Graduates. Thousands of people 
attended this Carnival and I will try and 
give a brief description of it. 

Around the lake and across it, thousands 
of electric lights were strung and every 
building near the lake and on the college 
grounds was lighted with Japanese lan- 
terns. 

The night was beautiful. 

[ 54 ] 


T h e Message of C hristma s 


Promptly at 8 o’clock, the signal for 
starting was given, and immediately about 
fifty boats, beautifully decorated with lan- 
terns, flags and flowers, moved slowly 
down the lake on one side and up again 
on the other. At both ends of the lake, 
while the boats moved along, there was a 
grand display of fireworks. And a band, 
on the banks of the lake, rendered the 
best of music. 

Just as the Carnival drew to a close, and 
the band had played “Home Sweet 
Home,” there was heard the college cry 
of the girls : 

“Rah! Rah! Rah! who are we? 

We are the girls from Milburn — see. 

Is Milburn in it? Well, I guess — 

Milburn, Milburn, is the — ^best.” 

With a shout of laughter from the 
audience, the Carnival, in honor of the 
Graduates, was over. 


[ 5 . 5 ] 


The Message of Christmas 


The night of graduation had also 
passed. The morning after, Mr. and Mrs. 
Barnard, Edna, and I were at the station, 
waiting for the train. We were sur- 
rounded by about fifty girls who had come 
to say good-bye to Edna, and while these 
girls ai’e saying their good-bye, let us say 
good-bye to her, and to the happy days 
of childhood, that have, forever, passed 
away. 
































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